Tommy Kono trained primarily from the hang in his dirt floor basement.
Norb Schemansky seemed to train with the mindset of “because fuck you that’s why”, even getting fired for requesting time off to lift at the Olympics. He trained hard but within his limits, generally maxing in contest, and occasionally in impromptu gym contests.
They didn’t have bumper plates. Strength was the priority. Technique just needed to be good enough, self taught was the way, lifters did for themselves, what they needed to.
I once found old footage of and a write up on a lifter who trained in his kitchen.
They still had the overhead press.
No certifications, no seminars, and little coaching. What they had was a can do attitude.
It was a time worthy of emulation.
You don’t need pristine conditions.
You don’t need to train perfectly scientific.
If taking the weights outside to do hang variants is how you can train…
If high rep overhead squats are your way to train around no rack or stands…
If you like the military press, despite it no longer being contested..
If your platform is dirt…
If your lifting shoes are whatever you happen to own…
Do it.
Your attitude towards it all is all that matters. Fuck the minutia. I’m a big strong heavyweight, the bar’s goin overhead.
As I pant from the last set I can’t help but feel connected to an older age, if my Grandpa in the 50s was training with weights for football I bet it looked something like this.
Sometimes the way forward is to look back, and run with it.